You may think that most Aussies are busy relaxing by throwing a shrimp on the barby, while knocking down a cold one, or riding the crest of a wave on a surf board, dodging sharks, stingrays and the odd croc or two. Well this may be the case for the South Hooligans manager, Sommers. However, he still finds time to dominate the Dream League with another well deserved title. If that wasn’t enough, the team dominated the X11 world with a superb showing in the XCL, that resulted in them capturing the XCL crown and cementing Sommers’ place in the hall of fame.

However, we are here to discuss what happened in their Dream League campaign during season 23, which all started off with a 4-0 home win against Prieure de Sion. That win was followed up with a win at home to Gr8est Team (2-0), an away victory to AD Ponte da Barca (3-0), a home win against Beanheads XI (3-0) and an away victory to Spurs Kickers (1-0). Five wins in a row, was soon extended to 6 league wins after a solid 4-0 win at home to Zacgold FC. So it was 6 games played and a maximum of 18 points was picked up by Sommers, before dropping the first points of the campaign away to FC Petrogal, in the first of the double headers as Sommers’ men could only grab a point in a 1-1 draw.

Revenge though, is a dish best served cold, or so I’m told, as I prefer to roast mine with some garlic and white wine, however, I digress and Sommers got back to winning ways in the turnaround, by beating FC Petrogal 2-0. Next up for South Hooligans, an away trip to Zacgold FC. The Hooligans went in at halftime, 1-0 down, but some stern words by the manager who threatened them with a marathon viewing of Home and Away, should they lose, gave them the motivation to come out on top 3-2 in a five goal thriller.

Spurs Kickers were next up, and it was South Hooligans doing the kicking of bottoms, as they sent them packing after a solid 3-0 home win. A defeat on the road to Beanheads XI was unwelcome, but not disastrous as the South Hooligans enjoyed a good lead at the top of the table. Any doubts at all that Sommers would keep hold of the Dream league title were of course dismissed sharply, especially after a superb 3-0 home victory to AD Ponte da Barca, sealed the title with games to spare.

This of course meant that the manger could concentrate on the XCL and so losses against Gr8test Team and Prieure de Sion which saw the league season out, were insignificant, especially as sandwiched between them was of course the win in the XCL final.

So what’s next for Sommers? Will he be sat back listening to Kylies greatest hits? Sat watching old episodes of Prisoner Cell Block H and deciding if he had too, which one would he…? Relaxing with a cold one while wondering how the hell Australia have gotten away with not being forced to take Rolf Harris back. Well, I expect all of the above and I also expect he will be trying his best to grab a much coveted hat-trick, if only to cover up his bald spot. But here is the man speaking of his recent triumphs:

XD: My first question, if you can, is to sum up your feelings after a phenomenal season...?

Sommers: Yeah hard to put it into words... unexpected, I'd say? I knew I'd have a great chance to win the Dream League title again, I had one of the strongest teams but a lot of things still need to go right to get the job done. So I was definitely satisfied once that title was wrapped up, and if that's all I got out of the season then I still would have been very happy.

The XCL?! I really never gave a second of thought to winning that. 'Unbelievable' is a word I'd use to describe the XCL run... if someone told me before the comp started that I'd play thirteen games against the best teams in X11, only lose one and end up taking out the title, I would have told them to get off whatever they were smoking.

I was actually away on holiday when the XCL final was being played, and the game was at 7am for me... when my alarm at 6:45am woke my fiancé up [that ladies and gentlemen is the dedication it takes to become the game's greatest], fair to say she wasn't too happy... she asked me why the hell I was setting an alarm when we were on holiday, and when I told her, all she could do was laugh and say "You absolute loser" haha. Well worth copping it a bit though!

XD: It was a fantastic season there's no denying that, did you imagine your side would wrap things up so quickly? Were you even expecting the title at all?

Sommers: Nope, I definitely didn't expect the season to pan out the way it did! As I said above, I knew I'd be one of the top competitors for the title, but there are some very strong teams in the Dream League so to do it in such a commanding fashion was a surprise. My boys just managed to find a way to keep winning, while the evenness of the competition meant that the others just kept taking points off each other, so my lead at the top got extended almost every week.

The title was basically wrapped up with four weeks to go - I moved twelve points clear and had a twenty goal advantage in goal difference over the next best team, so I got to use the last month of games for DV and fielded youths. I would have liked to shoot for an undefeated season (I was undefeated through the first ten weeks, then lost three out of the last four when I used the youngsters), but I would have been silly not to use those games for DV!

XD: Truthfully, yes or no, do you think you'd have been able to win the XCL had the league not have been a foregone conclusion with about three or four games left?

Sommers: Well originally I never thought I could win the XCL regardless of what was happening in the league!

Ha but yeah it definitely helped my cause because the timing worked out perfectly for me... with a month to go in the Dream League and the title fight over, the XCL semis were just about to kick off. It allowed me to put all my time and effort into that competition (and I could rest my star players from league games) so I was lucky in that regard. If I still had to worry about the league, it might have been a bit of a distraction, so let's just say it would have made the job of winning the XCL a bit tougher...

XD: But let's not if, but and maybe. Your side cruised to the title and you should rightfully be proud. Would you say there's an outstanding performer in the South Hooligans side both in terms of quality and their history? In the XCL I noted myself that Elroy Spooner at times double-handedly kept you in ties while Libergetti in defence was also a consistently good performer.

Sommers: Yep I agree with you there - Spooner was solid as a rock throughout the XCL, he was my most consistent performer and in the end was probably the difference for me. Zidane wasn't the highest skilled forward going around, but he always seemed to bang in important goals right when I needed them (and he scored the opening goal in both the second leg of the XCL semi and the XCL final).

It's hard to single out just one player because I've had the core group of this squad together for 13-14 seasons now, but I'll give special mentions to two defenders - Kingsley Oates and Gamri Mejlaq. They've both been long-serving, consistent star defenders, but they both played out of position as midfielders in my last two XCL games. It allowed me to throw the opposition with a bit of a 'surprise' strategy, and it worked perfectly, giving me a big tactical advantage and in the end it made the difference.

XD: All this has come from seasons of hard graft coming from the depths of Division 7, what's the plan now? To try and consolidate the future of the side in the top flight or will you go back down with quality youngsters to go back up again?

Sommers: This time around, I definitely want to consolidate and hang around somewhere near the top divisions. The last thing I want to do is run this team into the ground and end up with a bunch of 35 year olds I can't sell, because that would just wreck all the hard work I've put into it. The plan has already started - I just sold my best midfielder and brought in a couple more youngsters, so I've weakened my starting team, which means I'll be no chance of back-to-back XCL titles (especially with the group I've been drawn in!), but I want to ensure the squad is good enough to survive in the top 1 or 2 divisions for the foreseeable future. If we can win another Dream League or two, then great, but I really doubt I can have a run like that...

XD: This was indeed your second title on the bounce, do you think you can make it three?

Sommers: Yeah I think I can, but whether I do or not is another question! As I said, I've weakened my squad, and a few of the other teams have caught up a bit... I think Beanheads XI, Gr8est Team and Spurs Kickers will be the biggest challenges, but it's a very even league this season and anything can happen. A hattrick of titles would be awesome, but while I've still got a strong enough squad, I want to win another Dream League cup as well, so we'll wait and see how the first few rounds of each competition play out and then decide where to put the major focus...

XD: There's little to talk about to a manager who wins everything as I'm sure you've realized :P so Sommers, tell us about yourself, your interests and hobbies off the game and whatnot which have led to your xpert character.

Sommers: Ok well I'm a primary school teacher, love my job and getting to deal with kids everyday is a lot of fun. Gives you a great feeling knowing you're having such an impact on the youngens :) The work takes up a hell of a lot more time than most people see though, they think it's all holidays and that's it... when you're planning/marking/writing reports on weekends when your mates are out and about, it's not great!

Outside of work I love my sports, had to give up my football (AFL) because of some pretty bad injuries but I still play soccer (outdoor and indoor), tennis, golf, poker, and whatever else I can fit in around hitting the pubs with mates for a few too many drinks!

I'm also getting married later this year, in November, so the fiancé and I are currently very busy trying to get everything organised for that... far out a wedding sends you broke quickly, and we're not even anywhere near it yet!

XD: Now a few years ago you conducted an interview with the Daily after a recent MOTW win and I'd like to reiterate a question which was posed then: which is better, proper Football (one where a leather ball is hoofed about) or that Aussie rules rubbish ;)?

Haha, as much as I love my soccer, the Aussie stuff is still better! My team (Geelong) just won their third premiership in the past five years (after going 44 years without one!), and I was lucky enough to be at the last Grand Final at the end of 2011. Best day of my life [I hope your fiance doesn't play X11 (wasntme)], I reckon I can die happy now I've seen one live!

I played footy (AFL) to a pretty high level myself when I was younger, so it'll always be my number 1 sport ;)

The XD, tips it’s hat to you Mr Sommers, on a fine season.

Dream League Cup Review

AS Ploiesti v Ricardos Legends II

Cup fever gripped the managers of AS Ploiesti and Ricardo’s legends II as they walked out onto the hallowed turf of the Xpert Arena, where, like all venues of finals, charged an excessive amount of money for an out of date meat (at least we think its meat) pie and weak cup of tea (don’t go there). However, despite this and the price of car parking, souvenir program, specially printed T-Shirt and of course, the cost of the ticket, the fans were in buoyant mood as they cheered their teams onto the pitch. The players shook hands, presumably as neither John Terry or Anton Ferdinand were involved and referee, Tony Nolan (S9, H9, so no funny business please) got the match underway.

AS Ploiesti lined up in an attacking 3:5:2 formation and had arrived with only 1 substitute on the bench, in the form of forward, Wissman. Ricardos however, had set up as a 4:5:1. Both teams were keen to get the measure of each other in the opening few minutes and it was the referee that had the first bit of action, booking Ploiesti midfielder, Ioan Boldescu.

Then, in the 21st minute, the Ploiesti crowd erupted as a cross sent in by Colin Brunton, was headed home by forward Marcu Stamatescu. Ricardos looked to get back into the game and made it level on yellow cards at least in the 38th minute, as defender Mathias Stock made it into Tony Nolans black book. However, four minutes later and it was jubilation for Ricardos legends fans, as lone forward Olof Eskilsson sent a screamer from long range into the back of the net.

Half time - AS Ploiesti 1-1 Ricardos Legends II

The second half started, and it was a busy one for referee Tony Nolan, who added 3 AS Ploiesti names into the book. In the 69th minute, Ricardos Legends grabbed a 2-1 lead, thanks to a shot in the area by Cahit Babacan. The Ricardos fans were nervously clock watching as the game entered the final 15 minutes. Then, in the 79th minute, the sight that the AS Ploiesti management team and fans didn’t want, an injury to midfielder Ioan Boldescu. This meant that sole substitute, Wissman was sent on to do a job in the centre of the park.

Seconds seemed like minutes to the Ricardos fans, while the vice versa was true for the Ploiesti faithful. Then in a twist of fate, substitute Wissman managed to grab a late equaliser from a Colin Brunton corner and the game was now 2-2.

End of normal time - AS Ploiesti 2-2 Ricardos Legends II

To say extra time was a non event, would be an understatement. The only action being a yellow card for Legends defender James Palmer. So, after 120 minutes of cup final football, penalties would be needed to separate the two teams.

After extra time - AS Ploiesti 2-2 Ricardos Legends II

AS Ploiesti won the toss and had elected to go first, and Pangratiu made no mistake, 1-0. Next up was Legends defender Tatanka, 1-1, straight down the middle. Defender Torbjorn Lohm was next up, but disaster for the Ploiesti faithful as he failed to convert. This gave the Legends an opportunity to get their noses ahead, but the nervous looking James Palmer failed to capitalise on the situation.

This meant the score was 1-1 after 2 penalties each.

Aaron Robben was up next for Ploiesti and he fired home, 2-1. Goal scorer Cahit Babacan was up next for the Legends, but he failed to do what he did in normal time and missed the target. This gave Ploiesti the advantage after 3 attempts each.

Forward Christian otterdahl now had a great chance to give his side some breathing space in the shootout, but the occasion was all too much for him and it was a penalty miss for Ploiesti. Legends midfielder Parto Daffa had a superb chance to pull his team level in the shoot out, but he too failed to find the back of the net from 12 yards.

So after 4 penalties each, the score stood at 2-1 to AS Ploiesti and that meant that if Marcu Stamatescu, the scorer of the games first goal, could convert from the spot, it would hand victory to his team. Stamatescu placed the ball down, eyed up the keeper and made no mistake. The Ploiesti players and staff ran over to the goal scorer to the sound of their jubilant fans, while the Legends players were on their knees in disbelief, AS Ploiesti had won the Dream League cup and would also be tasting XCL football next season.